CRITICAL POSITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 88, 14 April 1938, Page 7

CRITICAL POSITION

CLOTHING INDUSTRY

HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES DISMISSED FIRMS ENABLE TO MEET COMPETITION [ Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, April 13. Hundreds of clothing trade employees in Canterbury alone have been dismissed within the past month or so because of th# critical position which has arisen in the industry. When the Australian tariff was recently adjusted to protect local industries from outside competition in the face of the increased cost, nothing was done to check the United Kingdom imports. These are Bow flooding the country in what is described as record proportions, and local manufacturers have consequently feeen forced off the market. This applWs to all branches of the trade. Matters have come to a head in the past month, culminating in wholesale dbrtnissals on a grand scale, although the position has been steadily growing worse since the end of last year.

Concerned at the situation, manufacturers are planning a combined Do-minion-wide protest to the Government, seeking revision of the United Kingdom tariff to compensate them for the increased coats they have been called on to bear. Last week one of the city’s largest concerns dismissed Gv employees, having previously paid rff 25 last Christmas. In a general notice to the staff the management posited out circumstances and said that it was Impossible to employ the full staff. A big woollen factory dismissed many hands recently for the same reason. Many of those who lost their jobs were married men with families, and some had worked for the firm for upwards of 20 years. Without exception, factories in the district have had to shorten staffs, and smaller workrooms have dismissed on the average between five and 20 employees each. A survey is now being made as to the extent to which local industries are affected, so that evidence may be placed before the Government in support of the request for prompt action.